Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (AR) Copyright: 2001 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Contact: 121 East Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201 Website: http://www.ardemgaz.com/ Forum: http://www.ardemgaz.com/info/voices.html Author: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette LONOKE -- A jury sentenced a Beebe man to 60 years in prison Wednesday for selling less than a half-gram of methamphetamine. Charles Dugger, 39, was sentenced after the jury deliberated for 20 minutes, Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Lona McCastlain said. Dugger was charged in May with delivering a controlled substance after he sold the drug to an "informant" on a farm road outside of Carlisle. Dugger had three prior convictions on theft-related charges, McCastlain said. "He was facing 10 to 40 years or life," she said. "But as a habitual offender that went up to 10 to 60 years. We were pleased that the jury gave him 60 years." Ron Nichols of Carlisle defended Dugger, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Wade Beach prosecuted the case. "We want to send a message to drug dealers that we are not going to tolerate it in Lonoke County," McCastlain said. - --- MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer